Car-coupling



(No Model.) v

W. E. GALLAHER. GAR COUPLING.

110. 482,121. Patented s ta,- 1892.

WITNESSES. v lNV TOR 12W 11 2M. ,d lii/ BY A 77'ORNE Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. GALLAHER, OF ORUGERS, NEIV YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,121, datedSeptember 6, 1892.

I Application filed March 29, 1892. Serial No. 426,976- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. GALLAHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crugers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Ooupl in.gs, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a car-coupling in which thecoupling devices are simple, strong, interoperative with all forms oflink-couplings, and capable of being manipulated with safety to thetrainman either from the top of the car, as when certain cars aredetached while the train is in motion, (as for the purpose of switching,&c.,) or from the side of the car in the process of making up a train,or in coupling on additional cars. These objects are attained by themeans set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which like letters ofreference refer to similar parts in the several views.

Figure I is a side view of a portion of a freight-car with my couplingattached. Fig. II is an end view of the same Fig. III is an enlargedcross-sectional view of my coupling. Fig. IV is an end view of the same.Fig. V is an edge view of the coupling-link shown in cross-section inFig. III. Fig. VI'is a plan view of the same. Fig. VII is across-sectional View of my coupling, showing the manner in which it maybe adapted to the ordinary coupling link and pin.

Reference to Fig. I will show my coupling to consist of a draw-head anot essentially differing in general form from the ordinary form oflink-couplings. In fact, my device may be applied to many, if not all,of those already in use. The draw-head is provided with the usualcoupling-pin p to adapt the draw-head for coupling with the ordinarycoupling-link. It is further provided with a swinging pawl d, (shown incrossseotion in Figs. III and VII,) which has a spindle through it at m.The hole to receive the spindle is square and is fitted by the part ofthe spindle that holds the pawl. The spindle has a .bearing 01, Fig. IV,on one end and at the other end extends outside of the draw-head, whereit is provided with a crank j, Figs. I, II, and IV. This crank isattached to a red 1), Figs. I and II, that extends to the top of thecar, as shown, terminating in a handle e for the hand. At a suitableheight this rod is provided with a loop h, which receives the end of alever Z, pivoted on the car at w and extending to the side of the car,as shown, from where manipulation of the bar will cause a lifting of thepawl. The crank 7' and its rod connections are so arranged that theirweight will tend to always maintain the pawl in its normal position,which is that of having its point resting on the bottom of thedraw-head, as in Fig. VII. A downward pull on the lever Z or an upwardpull on the handle e will lift the pawl either to admit a link or torelease one.

Fig. V illustrates a form of link which I employ. It may be a solidplate with catches is k on the ends; but I preferably make it of theform shown in Fig. VI, so that it may be adapted to the ordinarylink-couplings.

Fig. III shows the coupling in place and the method of its use. Toprevent the link passing too far into the draw-head, I add to its centera lug g, which will insure enough coupling outside the draw-head to becaught by another draw-head run against it. With the pawl and couplingas shown the pin 13 would not be required; but for adapting the devicesto the ordinary plain link the pawl is perforated in line with the holesfor the pin in the draw-head athat is to say, the holes will all alignwhen the link is in place; but to avoid the necessity for a trainmangoing between the cars when coupling with a com mon link the holes forthe pin will be arranged as in Fig.VII,in which the perforation throughit is shown not to be in line with the holes in the draw-head when thepawl is in its normal place, so that the pin will rest on the pawl. Thepassage of a link under the pawl will lift it far enough to allow thepin to drop through the pawl,as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. VII.Thus whether this coupling is to be joined with one of its own kindprovided with the form of link to which it is especially adapted orwhether it is to be joined with any of the common forms oflink-couplings it becomes an automatic coupler.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination,in a car-coup1er,of the draw-head a, provided with apawl having a square spindlesupport and a perforation throughit for acoupling-pin to align with the holes in the draw-head only when raisedby the introduction of a link, the pawl to be manipulated by means of acrank j, a rod connecting with the crank and-extending-to the.

top of the car and having connection with the lever l, by which the rodand pawl may be 0perated, and a link provided with enlarged ends 70 kand a central lug g, substantially as shown and described.

2. In acar-coupling,adraw-head provided with a pawl d, suspended on asquare spindle havingbearings in the sides of the draw-head,

the-spindle having a crank on one end to be I 5 manipulated by aconnecting-rod b and a lever 1, the pawl and draw-head being perforatedto receive an ordinary coupling-pin, a coupling-pin p, and a link 0,provided with enlarged ends and with a lug g at its center, 20

substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM E. GALLAHER.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN LENT, H. ALBAN ANDERSON.

